Tensiometer



Aug. M, l F. M. STEAUMAN TENSIOMETER 2 Sheets-5hee E.

Filed Aug. 17, 1945 R.. m M w m To, QW). fyi

Filed Aug. 17, 1945 F'. M. STEADMAN g TENSIOMETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #Treff/EY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENSIOMETER Frank M. Steadman, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 611,215

claims. (Ci. 'z3- 95)` (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

l My invention relates to instruments for testing the tensile strength of strips of textile fabric or individual threads and strands and more particularly to a hand operated instrument of this type which is of simplified and sturdy construction making it readily portable.

Heretoforaldiferent types of tensiometers and other instruments for measuring the tensile strength of strips of fabric orv of individual threads and strands have been constructed, but most of these instruments are relatively complicated and are designed t0 be permanently secured in place for use in indoor laboratories or similar places. Obviously such instruments are not portable and cannot be carried conveniently to the place where the materials to be tested are located, but rather the material must be brought to the instrument, which under certain circumstances may be inconvenient or impossible. Furthermore, the construction of many of thesev prior instruments `is such that trained operators are required for their proper handling and they are subject to frequent maladjustment due to the presence of dust or foreign materials in the delicate operating mechanism, or due to corrosion of these parts or simply as a result of rough handling and of abuse of the instruments by careless operators.

In an effort to overcome these disadvantages,

I have devised a hand operated tensiometer generally similar in construction to a pliers in that it has pivoted members formed to provide operating jaws to which a strip of material to be tested is clamped and which are spread when force is applied to the operating handles to apply a tension to the strip clamped between the jaws the amount of which is visually indicated on the tool through the operation of one of the operating arms of the tool this arm being constructed in the form of a torque measuring tool.

It :'s accordingly an object of my invention to provide a new and improved tensiometer which is sturdy in construction but light in weight, small in size and compact so that it is readili7 portable and may be carried by an operator from place to place.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a new and improved tensiometer constructed in the form of a pliers having jaws with means for clamping a strip of fabric or a strand of thread thereto and operating levers for opening the jaws to place the material being tested under tension, one of the `latter levers being so constructed that it indicates the torque being appliedl thereto.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) which can be constructed to indicate directlyin foot-pounds or inch-pounds, the tension being applied to the material being tested.

Yet another object of the invention is the pro- `vision of a new and improved tensiometer of.: such simplified construction that the `possibilityof lost motion or friction in the indicating means due to wear or maladjustment is almost entirely eliminated.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View partly in section of my improved tensiometer.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the operating lever arm, indicating arm and indicating scale.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of` tensiometer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the tensiometer shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a top plan View of still another embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings I have shown in Figs. l to 3 a form of the invention which is preferred where sturdinessof construction is the prime consideration. The tool therein shown comprises a pair of lever arms indicated generally at II) and II provided with relatively short jaws I2 and I3 and relatively long handles or operating arms I4 and I5 which terminate in hand grips I6 secured to the ends of the operating arms in any suitable manner, for example by means of rivets II shown in Fig. l. Intermediate the jaws and the operating arms or handies the lever arms Il] and II are provided withflat interengaging knuckles I8 and I9 respec-u tively by means of which the two lever arms are pivotally secured together upon a pin 20, in such fashion that upon moving the operating arms I4 and I5 in a closing direction from the posi-- an indicating bar 22, integral with the handle bar 2| at the knuckle portion I9 where the lever arms I9 and II are pivoted together. end of the bar 22 is not secured and is `provided with a pointer 23 for indicating on a scale 24 secured to the hand grip |65 of 'thev instrument in any suitable manner. Scale 24 maybe. Iprovided with a channel 25 in which a telltale 26 is free to slide for indicatingthe greatest. extent of movement.

Each of the jaws I2 and I3 is provided with meansfor clamp-ing an end of a strip of fabric or thread comprising a resilient clip2'I secured at its rearY end to the side of the jaw andhaving a forward; gripping edge 28 normally positioned out of engagement withthelside of the jaw. To force the-,gripping edge 28 of a clip against the side of a Ajaw so that it will grip theI endv ofA a strip of textile fabric oran-individual thread or strand the Vclip is provided with abeveled cam surface 29 adapted to engage with-arsecondcarn 39 comple mentaryto the cam 279 and pivoted on `a pin 3|- coaxial with the -axis offthexcarn surface 29.

It-will be apparent that invone position of the pivoted cams 39 the beveled faces on the cams 3l] and-'surfaces 29 eomplementeach other and clips 2l remain disengaged fromthe sides of the jaws I2and I3 but in a. position 180 removed from the first mentioned position the beveled surfaces will beepposed andthe gripping-.edges 28l of the clips willbe `forcedl'irnzilyV into engagement with the. sides of the-jaws. f .A A I f In using this instrument Vfor testing the tensile strength of fabric a strip VofV the .same is first clamped-to the jaws! 2 and I3 so that it is taut but net under tension. This will be Yindicated when the pointer 23 is at zero as shown in Fig. 1. The instrumentis then graspedl by the hand grips I9 and a force applied to the operating arms I4 and I tending to-move them toward eachother so that ithe jaws I2 andj-I3tend to spread and a tension is applied to the piece of fabric. Due to its-.resilience the handle bar-2| will tend to bend or ex when the fabric resists the opening of the jawsa-but the indicating arm- 22 being free on its outer end this end will remain stationary so that asythe lhandle bar 2| flexes the scale 24 is moved under the indicator 23. Scale 24 may be calibratedin foot-pounds or inch-pounds or in any other vvsuitable indicia in which tension is to `be measured `so that the instrument is direct reading.

VEmbodiments of the invention for taking more accurate measurements vof the tensile strength of fabric or individual threads are shown in Figs. 4 tof?. Itwill be noted that these instruments are generally -similar'in construction to the instrument shown in Figs. l Vto 3 butvthey include an operating lever arm 32 of diferent construction and a dial indicator 33 in place of the scale 24.

Operating lever arm 32 comprises a resilient handle bar 34 extending from hinge knuckle I8 and secured at its lowerend to a sleeve-like hand grip 35 by means of set screws 4 I, and an indicating bar 36 which extends from the lknuckle I8 intoV the sleeve 35 but is not secured to the latter. As-aresult when the handle bar 34 is flexed the Nore The outerV bar 36 will move in the sleeve 35 longitudinally with respect to the bar 34. By means of an operative connection of conventional construction between an indicator needle 3`| in the dial indicator 33 and this bar 36 the needle 3'I will be actuated when the handle bar 34 of the lever arm 32 iseflexed. Byproperly Calibrating .the dial of the dial indicator it may be made to indicate directly the amount of tension applied to a material being tested. A suitable operative connection between the dial indicator 33 and the indicating arm 36 isfdisclosed and described in United States Patent No. ..2,196,223for a Torque Indicating Wrench,

point of the. lever arms.

yissued April 9, 1940, to Walter H. Montgomery.

Another err'ibodiment of the invention similar to that yjust described is shown in Fig. 7 but With the dial indicator 33 mounted at the hub or pivot In this form of the invention a handle bar 3B and an indicator bar 39 are both rigidly secured,l at their outer ends in afl-rand grip 40 and the inner` end-of the handle bar V3.8 is integral with a hinge knuckle on the arm IIIV by which the lever arms I0 and I I are pivotally secured togethersimilar to the manner in which the arms ofthe embodiments previously described are secured together. Y The inner end of the bar 39. projects into a= slot.40 inthe hinge knuckle-0n the lever arm If and is free to move longitudinally thereinvwhenthe handlebar 38-,is exed. Bar 39 is provided witha finger 39 for cooperation with a pin 'I3' operatively connected to. an indicator needle 3'I inthedial indicator'33 which is calibrated toindicate the tension applied;- to.v a ma.-V

teriaLbeing tested. This connection may besimilar tothe connection used lin the tool shown in Figs. .-.4 and 5. In both of, these embodiments ofthe invention V.clips 2'I similar .to the clipsshown in'Fig. lmay be used for clamping fabric tothe jaws 12.and I3of theinstrument and these instruments arevused in the same manner as the device rstdescribed. i

Itwill beobviousthat instruments for testing materials ofV widely varying tensile strength may be constructed by providing` a handlebar of varying degrees vof resistance tov .ilexing Other changes. inthe size, form or arrangement of parts falling Within the scope of the invention may also be made. Y Therefore, I do not wish to be limited tothe precise construction shownv and described,

but-'desire to-avail `myself ofall .the modications.

and changes coming within. thescope ofthe appended claims.

I claim: y

1. A device for testing the tensile strength of fabric. 0r individual threads and strands compris.- ing rigidV and exible lever arms having interengaging hinge knuckles formed intermediatetheil? ends for pivotally securing said levers together to form relatively longoperating handles and relatively shortjaws, said jaws having flat, normally contacting inner faces, means for tautly clamping a materialto be tested to said jaws to resist opening thereof when force is applied to said handles, an indicating barintegral with the knuckle on said flexible arm and extending parallel to the unflexed position of said arm, ascale secured to the outer end -of` saidV flexible arm,.a pointer on said bar for cooperating with said scale and indicating the deflection of. said flexible arm when force is applied thereto for measuring the tension applied to the material being tested, and a telltale cooperating withsaid pointer and scale to indicate theV .5 prising rigid and flexible lever arms pivotally secured together intermediate their ends to form relatively long operating handles and relatively short jaws, means for tautly clampingV a material to be tested to said jaws to resist opening thereof when force is applied to said handles, said flexible arm provided with a slot adjacent the pivoted portion thereof, an indicating bar on said iiexible arm having a free end extending into said slot, said bar being adapted to move longitudinally in said slot with respect to said arm, an indicator secured at the pivot axis of said device and means operatively connecting said bar and indicator to indicate the relative longitudinal displacement of said bar with respect to said arm upon the application of force to said handles, said indicator being calibrated to measure the tension applied to the material being tested.

3. A device for testing the tensile strength of fabric or individual threads and strands, comprising rigid and iiexible lever arms having interengaging hinge knuckles formed intermediate their ends for pivotally securing said levers together to form relatively long operating handles and relatively short jaws, said jaws having iiat, normally contacting inner faces, means for tautly clamping a material to be tested to said jaws to resist opening thereof when force is applied to said handles, an indicating bar integral with the knuckle of said flexible arm, said indicating bar being located in the plane of said levers and parallel with said iiexible arm, and a scale and pointer mounted on said flexible arm and bar for indicating the deflection of the flexible arm when force is applied thereto for measuring the tension applied to the material being teste 4. A device for testing the tensile strength of fabric or individual threads and strands, comprising rigid and flexible lever arms having interengaging hinge knuckles formed intermediate their ends for pivotally securing said levers together to form relatively long operating handles and relatively short jaws, said jaws having flat, normally contacting inner faces, means for tautly clamping a material to be tested to said jaws to resist opening thereof when force is applied to said handles, an indicating bar integral with the knuckle of said exible arm, said indicating bar being located in the plane of said levers and parallel with said flexible arm, a coop' erating scale and pointer mounted on said flexible arm and bar for indicating the deflection of the liexible arm when force is applied thereto for measuring the tension applied to the material being tested, and a telltale vslidably mounted on the scale in the path of the pointer for indicating the point of greatest deection.

5. A device for testing the tensile strength of fabric or individual threads and strands, comprising rigid and flexible lever arms having interengaging hinge knuckles formed intermediate their ends for pivotally securing said levers together to form relatively long operating handles and relatively short jaws, said jaws having flat, normally contacting inner faces, means for tautly clamping a material to be tested to said jaws to resist opening thereof when force is applied to said handles, an indicating bar integral with the knuckle of said exible arm, said indicating bar being located in the plane of said levers and parallel with said flexible arm, and an indicator adapted to be operated by relative movement between the flexible arm and the indicating bar.

FRANK M. STEADMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 280,491 MacKay et al. July 3, 1883 2,136,344 Kochheiser et al. Nov. 8, 1938 2,196,223 Montgomery Apr. 9, 1940 2,348,098 Storrie May 2, 1944 2,368,757 Graham Feb. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,650 Great Britain 1894 142,515 Austria Aug. 10, 1935 

